Tropical Cyclone Cilla was a tropical cyclone that brought minor damage to several islands in the South Pacific in January 2003. The fifth cyclone of the 2002–03 South Pacific cyclone season, Cyclone Cilla developed from a monsoon trough on January 26 northwest of Fiji. Initially, Cilla moved east, and due to decreased wind shear, Cilla was able to intensify. On January 28, Cilla reached its peak intensity of 75 km/h (45 mph). After slightly weakening, Cilla briefly re-intensified the next day. However, Cilla transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on January 30. Along its path, Cilla dropped heavy rainfall over islands it passed. During its formative stages, the low dropped heavy rain over Fiji, which had already been affected by Cyclone Ami two weeks prior. Damage in Tonga was mostly limited to vegetation and fruit trees; infrastructural damage was also relatively minor. Cilla also brought moderate rain to American Samoa.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
On January 25, 2003, a low-pressure area formed within a monsoon trough about 300 mi (485 km) northwest of Fiji and moved to the east-southeast.[1] That morning, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) began to issue warnings on the system, designating it as 12P. Shortly thereafter, Cilla turned southeast hours later in the general direction of Tonga[2] Early on January 26, RSMC Nadi designated the low as Tropical Depression 07F, after attaining 10-minute sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).[3] At the time, the slow moving system had a poorly defined center of circulation that was hard to identify via radar and satellite imagery.[3] In addition, most of the deep thunderstorm activity was displaced to the north and southeast of the center.[3] Later that morning, the JTWC reported winds of 35 mph (55 km/h);[2] however, the depression did not become any better organized throughout the day.[4][5] Early the next day, RSMC Nadi upgraded the tropical depression to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian intensity scale and named it Cilla.[6] By 0600 UTC January 27, the JTWC reported that Cilla had attained 1-minute sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h), which according to JTWC data, was its peak intensity. Subsequently, Cilla turned east-southeast.[2]
Throughout the day, wind shear conditions lessened further; however, shower activity separated from the center, prompting the JTWC to issue its last warning on Tropical Cyclone Cilla later that day. At 2100 UTC January 27, RMSC Nadi remarked that the cyclone had become better organized.[7] Upon attaining peak intensity, the storm passed fairly closed to Tonga.[2] At 0600 UTC January 28, Cilla reached its peak intensity, with 10–minute sustained winds of 45 mph (70 km/h) per RMSC Nadi. At this time, the tropical cyclone was located about 400 mi (645 km) south-southeast of Pago Pago. Rapidly moving, Cilla showed baroclinic characteristics, hinting that the system was a hybrid low, sustaining characteristics of both tropical and nontropical cyclones.[7] According to RMSC Nadi, Cilla weakened slightly[2] as the storm lost organization due to increased wind shear.[7]
On January 29, thunderstorm activity once again increased in converge around the center, though at first, the convection was sheared at times. On 0000 UTC, Dvorak satellite intensity estimates yielded a 3.0, suggesting a tropical cyclone with 10–minute winds of 45 mph (70 km/h), Cilla's secondary peak intensity. Satellite images indicated a banding pattern associated with the cyclone. The JTWC briefly watched this system for regeneration, noting it had a "fair" chance. However, continued wind shear began to weaken Cilla, and by 1200 UTC on January 29, Cilla was reduced to a tropical depression[7] just before the system turned south-southeast.[2] With the center exposed from the deep convection, Tropical Depression Cilla transitioned into an extratropical cyclone at 1100 UTC the next day, on January 30.[7] The extratropical cyclone completely dissipated two days later.[2]
Impact and aftermath
As a tropical depression, Cilla passed over Vanua Levu. Even though the region had been severely affected by Cyclone Ami two weeks earlier,[8]flood waters that resulted from rains associated with the cyclone quickly receded due to the storm's rapid motion.[9]
When Cilla first posed a threat to Tonga, the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) issued a tropical cyclone alert for the entire island chain.[9] Damage in Tonga was mostly limited to vegetation and coconut and banana trees;[10] damage to infrastructure was minor.[11] Peak winds of 32 mph (51 km/h) and peak gusts of 67 mph (108 km/h) were recorded in Ha'apai.[8] Power was lost on Lifuka for about three hours during the night of January 27.[8] Communications services were also affected but restored on January 28.[8]
^Courtney, Joseph B (2005). The South Pacific and Southeast Indian Ocean tropical cyclone season 2003–2003 (PDF) (Report). Australian Bureau of Meteorology. pp. 11–12. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
^ abcdefg"2003 Tropical Cyclone Cilla (2003025S16173)". International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
^ abcTropical Disturbance Advisory Number B1 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 26, 2003. Retrieved January 2, 2010.[permanent dead link]
^Tropical Disturbance Advisory B3 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 26, 2003. Retrieved January 2, 2010.[permanent dead link]
^Tropical Disturbance Advisory B4 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 26, 2003. Retrieved January 2, 2010.[permanent dead link]
^Gale Warning 029 (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. January 27, 2003. Retrieved January 2, 2010.[permanent dead link]
^ abcdePadgett, Gary. January 2003. Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary (Report). Australian Severe Weather. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
^ abcdRSMC Nadi — Tropical Cyclone Centre (August 29, 2007). Tropical Cyclone Seasonal Summary 2002-2003 season (PDF) (Report). Fiji Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
^ ab"Cyclone Cilla moving towards Tonga's Ha'apai islands". Radio New Zealand International. January 27, 2003. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
^"Two cyclones continue to batter South Pacific". Suva, Fiji. Associated Press. January 28, 2003. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2012. (Subscription required)
^Asia Africa Intelligence Wire (January 28, 2003). "Only minor damage in initial reports as cyclone hits Tonga". BBC Monitoring. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
^Roth, David M. (January 3, 2023). "Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Data. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^RA V Tropical Cyclone Committee (2023). Tropical Cyclone Operational Plan for the South-East Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific Ocean 2023 (PDF) (Report). World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
Tropical cyclone
Subtropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
